Silver's Sims: Crystal Legacy - Generation 5 (Part 21)

Abandoned by her mother at an early age, Citrine has always been loved by her family and she loves them all the more in return. But even that love can't fill the hole inside of her, and chasing after her past only leads to more heartbreak.

Fern: Citrine!

Holiday: Give her a minute, kid. Facin’ your own mortality ain’t an easy thing.

Fern: We’re not gonna die down here! Citrine, come on, baby look at me–

Citrine: …what happens if Obscuro gets loose?

Fern: –what?

Citrine: If…if Sanguine does…whatever that ritual Favila mentioned was…what happens then?

Fern: …I don’t know. But it’s not going to happen! We’ll get out of here first, I–

Citrine: Fern.

Fern: ….I don’t know. Master Ignis’ stories…darkness will cover the land, and all that is good will die, and…it’s bad. Real bad. But it won’t happen! I promise you, it won’t happen!

Citrine: ….

Fern: I know–I know I messed up! I almost got us both killed before, and now this, and I–I can’t apologize enough for that because apologies won’t fix this but–I promise, I’m gonna fix this! We’re gonna make it home if it’s the last thing I do!

Citrine: ….you can’t promise that, Fern. No one can.

Fern: –I’m gonna make that promise anyway, and I’m gonna keep it!

Citrine: Fern…

Fern: I…you can have nothing to do with me after all this. Believe me, I get it, the way I screwed up…but I promise you, if I do nothing else with my life, I’m gonna get you home! Just…trust me. Okay?

Citrine: …I do trust you. I just…those three…they’re more than we can fight, Fern. We’re in over our heads and I don’t like where this is going.

Fern: I know…me either. But we have to hold on!

Fern: Spangle will…he’ll tell somebody you went missing. And Favila–if she doesn’t hear back, she’ll sound an alarm! Someone…someone’ll know we’re missing, baby.

Fern: …so if I can’t get us out of here…if something happens….you’ve got to hold on for help, okay? Promise me that, Citrine.

Citrine: I…I promise.

Fern: …we just have to hold on.

Calcite: What do you mean, you don’t know where they are?!

Mantis: Exactly that. No Hunter knows where Sanguine actually does her work. San Marsh is a front, a cover.

Spangle: You must have some idea.

Mantis: No. I don’t.

Nova: Mantis–

Mantis: And even if I did, I wouldn’t give you that information.

Nova: You cannot be serious!

Calcite: Why. Why won’t you?

Mantis: Fern deserves whatever happens to her.

Calcite: Excuse me?! She’s your niece!

Mantis: She is shunned, exiled. I warned you she was trouble. You not listening isn’t my problem.

Nova: You losing your teeth is about to be my problem–

Spangle: You still came when I called.

Spangle: You still picked up the phone and made the drive here. Why.

Mantis; ….Citrine is too important to lose to Sanguine.

Nova: But your own niece isn’t. You’re a real peach, you know that?

Spangle: …Mantis, are you saying…

Calcite: He is. Our family line is apparently magically important. *snort* So start talking. Where. Are. They?

Mantis: I don’t know.

Nova: Mantis I swear–

Mantis: I do not know. No one does. The only one who might have known was Master Rubeus, and he died thirteen years ago.

Spangle: Okay, that’s a lead. Do you still have his journals?

Calcite: Journals?

Spangle: All Hunters keep journals of the things they learn, the things they do. In case something happens to them, their knowledge isn’t lost. Do you have Rubeus’ journals?

Mantis: …in the Realm’s archive, yes.

Spangle: Great! Get us those and we can–

Calcite/Mantis: He/I can’t.

Calcite: *snort*

Mantis: ….you don’t understand. There’s too much at stake here to risk what’s in those journals, in any journals, from getting out.

Nova: Funny, here I thought I heard you say that Citrine was “too important to lose to Sanguine” a minute ago. Are a bunch of old books more important that the magical key line or whatever?

Mantis: …

Calcite: …we go to the Realm.

Mantis: What.

Calcite: We go to the Realm. Sage Mandarin helped me once, they’ll help us again.

Mantis: No. No, you can’t just waltz into the Realm like it’s a day trip–

Nova: Don’t tell us what we can and can’t do for family, Mantis. You don’t even know the meaning of the word.

Spangle: Mantis, you’re the one who told me secrets get people killed. Don’t you think it’s time the Hunters started working FOR the people, instead of just in the shadows?

Mantis; That isn’t my call to make–

Spangle: Besides, they already know you all exist! And the Realm, and magic, and–everything?

Calcite: Just about everything! So, the way I see it? Either you bring us those journals or we go and get them ourselves!

Nova: And we’ll bring every one of the kids with us, too. You want to see how fast a few college students with phones can get info out into the world?

Mantis: –you wouldn’t dare!

Calcite: Oh, we dare.

Nova: We are going to find our daughters, Mantis, so you either get on board or get out of our way!

Mantis; You–

Spangle: Mantis. Fern is exiled, but you still came when I called. You still care enough to drive all the way from Moonwood just to deal with this. Help us get them back.

Mantis: I–

Nova: …if not for Fern, then for Leaf, and Spring. That’s their daughter you’ve turned your back on. You think they’ll be glad to see you after all this time when this is what you’ve done to her?

Mantis: ….no.

Calcite: Then you know what you have to do. I’m not asking you to storm the castle or whatever, we’ll do that, you just need to get us those journals!

Spangle: If it helps, I swear they won’t leave my sight.

Mantis; …fine. But it’ll take time.

Nova: Wha–how much time?!

Mantis: Days. A week, maybe two.

Calcite: Two weeks?!

Mantis: It’s no short trip up to Glimmerbrook, and then getting the things out of the Archive without anyone seeing me…

Calcite: Then you’d better get moving.

Calcite: You’ve got two weeks, no more, to bring us those journals or we’re taking the kids and talking to Sage Mandarin ourselves. Something tells me they won’t be too happy to hear you didn’t help us.

Mantis; ….you really are her line.

Calcite: Yes, we are. And if Gram were still here, she’d be tearing you a new one. So get. moving.

Spangle: I’ll go on ahead and meet you in Glimmerbrook.

Mantis: ….fine. Fine. I suppose I have no choice.

Tropical: …poor kids.

Melody: They don’t deserve this.

Melody: None of us do.

Caramel: ….no one’s coming for us. Or them.

Sunshine: Like there ever was. We don’t exist anymore.

Holiday: Quiet, all of you.

Fern: I’m telling you, you can’t!

Sanguine: “Can’t” is not in my vocabulary, Huntress.

Fern: Then buy a dictionary because you can’t, cannot, will never, get into the Realm! The Portal won’t let you through!

Sanguine: Yes, and that is the problem you are going to help me fix.

Fern: You don’t get it–it can’t BE fixed! The Sages set the barrier that way on purpose!

Sanguine: Yes, I am aware of that as well. You, however, must be aware of a way through that barrier. And you will tell us, or…well. Nightshade has deft hands, I assure you.

Fern: Don’t you get it?! The Sages set that barrier! What makes you think I know anything?!

Sanguine: You are a Huntress. All Hunters and Huntresses are given stones to return to the Realm, yes? Where is yours?

Fern: I don’t have it!

Sanguine: *sigh* I am not blind, child, I can see that! Where did you stash it–

Fern: I don’t have a glimmerstone! I was exiled because your people stole the Well and killed my father before I could finish my training!

Sanguine: …well now. That…does present a problem.

Sanguine: No matter. The Glimmerstone would have made matters simpler but there is more than one way to kill a wolf. If we cannot enter the Abyss through the Realm, we will simply find another way.

Fern: There is no other way!

Sanguine: There is always another way. Gates into the Void exist in all places. You will make yourself useful and help us create one here.

Fern: You’re out of your mind if you think any of us will help you!

Sanguine: I have been called many things in my years, child. Nightshade, go on.

Fern: Go on–hey! Leave her alone!

Nightshade: Do make this easy on yourself, girl. I would hate to ruin such a pretty frame.

Citrine: Don’t do this. Please, don’t do this–

Nightshade: Nothing personal. I do as my Lady commands.

Fern: If you hurt her I will never help you!

Sanguine: Oh? I suppose you care so little for your maiden fair you would rather watch her die?

Sanguine: How cold of you, Miss Strike. But then, I suppose no attachments is the Hunter Way.

Fern: You–shut up! You don’t know what you’re talking about!

Sanguine: as I said, I have lived many years. I assure you, I know much about your people.

Sanguine: Like how your father died down here.

Fern: You–

Sanguine: Would you like to know his last words? How he died?

Fern: You–

Citrine: Don’t–!!

Fern: You–

Sanguine: I still have the huntress who killed him here. Would you like to fight her? Take your revenge?

Fern: I…I don’t–

Citrine: *gasping, choking*

Fern: You–stop! Just stop it! I’ll do what you ask just leave Citrine alone!

Sanguine: Oh? And whatever happened to never helping us at all?

Fern: ….

Sanguine: *chuckle* Everyone has a weakness, child. Have no shame in that yours is care for a dear, dear friend.

Citrine: *coughing*

Nightshade: You live only for my Lady’s will, child. Do not forget that.

Sanguine: Take heed, Huntress. Her life hinges on your doing as I say, when I say it. Any…rebellion, and she shall pay her blood price. Do you understand?

Fern: ….I understand.

Sanguine: Good! Much more amenable than your father. Mother’s influence, I assume. Ah, well. Nightshade! Take her to the arena.

Nightshade: Do enjoy yourself. Revenge is always amusing to watch.

Fern: …

Noble: …of course. Of course it’s you.

Fern: …are you the one who killed Leaf Strike?

Noble: I am. And you are his daughter.

Fern: Fern Strike, of the House of Thorns.

Fern: …I didn’t want this. I didn’t–this isn’t your fault! You didn’t–

Noble: I swung the sword.

Fern: You were forced to! Sanguine, she–

Noble: Yes, she did, but I still chose to take his life rather than let him take my own. That was my choice.

Fern: You didn’t–I don’t–

Noble: It doesn’t matter now.

Fern: Yes it does! I can’t just–I can’t just kill you! You were defending yourself, not–

Noble: This is not about revenge, Fern. It’s about survival. One of us leaves, the other won’t.

Fern: What?

Fern: Combat to the death?!

Noble: To the death. Every last one of us in those cells knows we could die at any time. Me, you, the others…whenever we come here, we know one of us isn’t living until tomorrow.

Fern: No…

Fern: No, I won’t do this!

Sanguine: Then you die.

Sanguine: And where will your precious Citrine be then?

Noble: You fight or you die, Fern!

Fern: I won’t!

Noble: You have to!

Noble: Because I plan to, and if you don’t fight…

Fern: Don’t. Don’t do this.

Noble: I have a life to return to. And do you.

Noble: If you want that life back, you have to fight for it. And for her, too.

Fern: …I kill you, or I die down here.

Noble: And Citrine with you.

Noble: And not only that, but without a protector? Without someone fighting for her? The Shade can be freed. Sanguine plays her games, but how long do you think that will last? How long will they toy with her before the Seal is broken? Can you allow that to happen?

Noble: Will you allow it to happen? Or will you fight for her, and for all life in the Light?

Fern: That is not fair.

Noble: Life is not fair, Fern, it just is.

Noble: So raise your sword and fight!

Fern: …who are you? Who do I put to the Record?

Noble: I am Noble Steel, of the House of Storms. Now stand.

Noble: Stand, Fern Strike of the House of Thorns! Raise your blade and fight for your right to survive!

Fern: ….I’m so sorry.

Noble: As am I. As am I.

Citrine: Should you seek shelter, may the walls be open to you. Should you seek kinship, may your Ancestors be near. Should you seek peace, may night come in time. Should you seek rebirth, may the sun rise…*sniff* Fern…